28 Lessons at 28

I recently watched a TED talk given by one of my personal role models, graphic design maverick Stefan Sagmeister. Early in the talk he confesses to being a “big list-maker” and reveals one list that spurred the creation of his book, Things I have learned in my life so far. Feeling inspired, I decided to make my own list of life lessons and since my birthday was approaching, I figured 28 would be an appropriate number. I made this list mainly for myself but I hope it will lend you a bit of inspiration as well. If it does, let me know in the comments!

So here they are, my 28 lessons at 28:

Life is too short to do work you don’t love

Nothing worthwhile comes easily

Happiness is a choice

Education doesn’t end when you graduate

Reality is far more malleable than you think

A life free of struggle is not worth living

There is secret power in long, solitary walks

Alcohol can fuel creativity; but too much can kill it

Being a good conversationalist means being a good listener

Invariably question any way of thinking or living that was thought up by someone else

Ego is an illusion

Reality is perception and perception is subjective

A dose of madness is needed to stay sane

Never let society tell you how to think about sex, relationships or your own body

Writing has a magical power to clear the mind and bring everything into focus

Making up your own rules is easier than you think

Remembering that you will die shatters the illusion that you have something to lose

All confidence flows from self-awareness

Every person is experiencing life for the first time; we’re all playing jazz

Art exists at the boundaries of communication

Our sexual identities govern more than we realize

Every creative master left the blueprints for greatness in their work

There is no “real purpose” to life just as there is no “real purpose” to dancing

1 Comment

# 29: You may live longer, but you will never need more than you learned in those 28 'lessons'.
You are infinitely magical and powerful and smart and creative.
Happy 28th Birthday.
I believe in you! -CB

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Nick is a freelance interactive designer & developer living in Austin, TX. He holds an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism from the University of Miami and previously worked at Associated Press and The New York Times.